Reviews tagging 'Child death'

So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole

5 reviews

afriqeenhilife's review against another edition

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challenging mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Sisterly Struggles and World-Building Woes

So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole had me intrigued with its compelling title and premise. A unique tale of two sisters, Farren and Elara, navigating a post-war world. Farren emerges as a national hero, while Elara grapples with her identity in her sister's shadow. The premise is captivating: “Are you going to save your sister? Or are you going to save the world?” However, the execution left me feeling a bit frustrated. I wish the storytelling had drawn me in more.

The struggle was real—over 12 restarts! I usually thrive on fantasy, but the world-building felt incomplete, and I didn’t grasp the magical elements fully. However, I appreciated the themes of trauma and the complex relationship between the sisters. I found it hard to connect with the characters, especially Farren. I actually actively disliked the fmc. I hope this was the authors intention…good job. The audio version made it a struggle to follow the world-building. Honestly, I was ready to give up, but I’m trying hard to support Black authors so it kept me pushing through. The story dives deep into trauma and sibling relationships, as a Black woman in America, I felt the title resonated with me on a personal level. 

**Score:** 3.5/5. While I struggled the entire time, the representation in fantasy is vital, and I hope for a prequel that dives deeper into their backstory.
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oxfordcommas91's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was such a creative take on the trope of "young woman chosen by Gods gets powers and saves her kingdom." I loved how this picked up years after the big fight with our two female main characters who are grappling with their identity, future, and place in the kingdom after everything that's happened. This unique plot had lots of action and was a unique twist on many of the typical fantasy plots that get a bit stale after so many books. It kept me on my toes the whole time and even though it's a YA, it's complex and satisfying enough for an adult audience. I appreciated the genuine/authentic representation for young women of color and queer folks and think the author did a beautiful job creating a unique world that was also steeped in Jamaican history and culture. Absolutely obsessed with this book (and the characters). The only downside was that I realized too close to the end that this was a series and not just a one-off ... I am definitely counting down the days until the sequel is released in early 2025! 
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zombiezami's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced

4.0

It took a little effort to get into this, but the story started to flow about 25 percent of the way in. I liked the characters quite a bit, especially Ilora. I think the book could have started stronger if it hadn't yada yada-ed the whole war that took place before the book. There was a lot of exposition that could have been more engaging in a show, not tell model. 
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anniesbooknook's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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dragonsheart8261920's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional inspiring tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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